Newspapers / Q-notes (Charlotte, N.C.) / March 7, 2009, edition 1 / Page 17
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N I T E L Y F E MARCH 7.2009 • K^tes 17 continued from previous page and they will come’ scenario doesn’t work anymore,” he says. “You have to have a gim mick to get people in. Keeping it fresh and offering different perspectives will make peo ple want to come back.” Smith agrees that “keeping it fresh” can draw in more business. “Your core clientele will always stay your core clientele,” he says. money to make money,’” Smith says. “Right now the economy is tough. What can you do? Think outside of the box.” Weavil says that diversity can make all the difference. “The more diverse the club, the bet- terr Weavil says. “That is the best plan for all sorts of clubs, gay or straight or however they label themselves.” [IKII- f I “But trying new things to shake it up a little bit can help.” He says small things like a new coat of paint and other occasional improvements can sometimes “mean everything.” “There’s that old saying,‘You have to spend Diversity, at least, is something the Carolinas can claim to have. Several female- oriented bars and clubs, like Steel Blue in Durham, Hartigans in Charlotte and Time Out Saloon in Greensboro, offer a place for lesbians and other women who love women. Charlotte is home to Sidelines, the only gay sports bar between D.C. and Atlanta. In Greensboro, LGBT clientele can chill at The Q, an after-work dive, pre-club dive. Club Myxx, in Charlotte, caters to a primarily African-American crowd. In Columbia, com munity members can choose from the grungy Art Bar, the strip joint PT’s 1109 or drag palace Cabaret. I don’t know if anyone can quite say what the future might hold for gay nightlife. Arguments that the era of the gay bar is com ing to an end are met with the stark reality that we still live in a time and place where queer folks aren’t always accepted in main stream society. With the exception of a few progressive bars here and there, it seems the majority of Carolinas towns and cities still have a need for nightlife establishments where LGBT people can be open and where they can freely express themselves without fear. Smith says he sees the future of gay nightlife in friendly competition and cooperation. “Healthy competition can be beneficial,” he says. “Even pro-football teams scrimmage against each other because it makes them stronger. We’ve got a great community, but it is so scattered right how.” Smith, who claims no official “home bar” for his Roxy C. Moorecox perform ances, says he’ll continue to support all his favorite gay establishments across the Carolinas. “I’m so grateful I get to perform in all these different venues,” he says. “I get to see everything.” Bars are like churches. Smith says. Everyone has their own little denomination — they’re Methodist or they’re Baptist or Catholic. At the end of the day and despite their differences, they’re all Christian, he says. Like all those churches, every little bar has its own flare and charm and no one can deny how fun it can be to mix it up and head out to place you haven’t visited for a while. Is the time of the gay bar coming to an end? I don’t think so. Perhaps, 40 years after Stonewall, they’re just in a mid-life crisis, of sorts. Give them all a few years and there’s no telling what we’ll see. Until then, just keep the music, drinks, hot boys and girls and night time fun flowing. I Q-Notes wants you... as a nightlife reporter Q-Notes is looking for several nightlife reporters around the Carolinas. These free lance writers would be responsible for taking photos and reporting on events at LGBT-ori- ented nightclubs, bars and other establish ments. Ideal candidates are regular-bar-goers or staff who can work on a deadline and can devote at least a few hours each nronth to writing short, entertaining pieces for publica tion in our print issues and online. And, the best part of all: Freelance contributors get paid! For more information, email editor@q-notes.com. rXvAumDnAurrA\^Affii6cA,WURlSEc!SATJBC*(SScASfnJWNSCAYACAPULC03GAYC0PENHACENfCAYTELAVlVtiCAYBARCEL0NA& >9fty5E^5P.^r?5)^SgMcffScvnMi:vrnaw^MflfiCaRlomu5«HROMAYBERUNr-CAYMEXICOaTY:GAYHONCKONG5GAYPARISEC riMP; r AVTfiifvnr CAYBUENOSAIRES * GAYROMEE CAYMADRDCAYBANGKOKE CAYCANCUNE CAY AMSTERDAM B C AYPRAGUEIj CAYZURICH m P?!^itft\Smuw5^v^^m%AWOPP»SiMFN!Mc3JYmAVIV^YBARCEL0NA6CAYST0CKH0LM&CAYBUDAPESTGCAYSYDNEYJ CAYVIE wSEGAYmOD§Af«lRO^YHa^EcSYMEXICOCrrY:CAYHONCKONC5CAYPARISCCAYLONDONECAYTOKYO&CAYBUENOSAIRESsCAYROMEr;CA You heart the world. Orbitz hearts you. Save $200 on international trips with promotion code GAYPASSPORT Book a qualifying international flight -r hotel packagebetween March i, 2009. and April 30,200^ 5 between March 1,2009, and June 15.2009, via Ortttz and instantly receive $200 off your booking thiwgh the ^ tre promotion code. Limit one discount per hotel room and one promotion code per booking. See vwwv.GayOrbitz.com for details. Visit CayOrbitz.com &RBITZ
Q-notes (Charlotte, N.C.)
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March 7, 2009, edition 1
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